Applications with integrated capture

ABSTRACT

Embodiments include a system for integrating capture software functionality into other software applications including computer aided design (CAD) application, search application, database management application, email applications, network publishing applications, collaboration applications, copying and facsimile applications, manufacturing applications and similar programs. A user may utilize any of these applications to initiate a capture of an image or model. The applications may include an integrated capture functionality or message system to communicate with a capture application to initiate a capture. A separate or integrated conversion application may automatically be invoked to convert and return the image or model to the requesting application.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The embodiments of the invention relate to integrating capture devicesand software with other related applications. Specifically, theembodiments of the invention are related to providing the ability toinitiate a capture and import the captured data into integratedapplications.

2. Background

A capture application is used to operate a scanning or capture devicesuch as a digital camera or scanner and store a captured image. Thisapplication is independent and stands alone from other software. Thescanning and capture application stores the captured data in a formatnative to the scanning or capture application. If a user desires toimport data generated by the scanning or capture application thatseparate target application must be opened and the data converted into aformat recognized by the target application before being opened by thetarget application. The captured data is either three dimensional dataor two dimensional data.

Computer automated design (CAD) applications are possible targetapplications. These applications create and manipulate three dimensionalmodels. These models may be stored on local storage devices. The CADapplication can operate on three dimensional models or data generated orcaptured by other applications if the three dimensional models or dataare converted into the format utilized by the CAD application. Aseparate conversion application is utilized to alter the format of thethree dimensional models. A user seeking to import a three dimensionalobject into the CAD application opens three separate applications: thegenerating application, the conversion application and the CADapplication to affect this transfer.

Similar actions are used to allow two dimensional images to be utilizedby applications including databases, email applications, publishingapplications and similar programs when the two dimensional image isgenerated by another application. An application to generate or capturea two dimensional image is used and the image stored. A conversionprogram is used to alter the format of the image for use with otherapplications. The target application is then used to open the convertedimages. Again, three separate applications are required to generate orcapture an image and then convert it into a format that a targetapplication can handle. Each separate application must be individuallylaunched and manipulated by a user to affect the desired capture andimport.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and notby way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings inwhich like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted thatdifferent references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure arenot necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean atleast one.

FIG. 1A is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing a three dimensional representation for use with a computeraided design (CAD) application.

FIG. 1B is a diagram of one embodiment of a wholly integrated system forcapturing a three dimensional representation for use with a CADapplication.

FIG. 1C is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing a three dimensional representation for use with a CADapplication including a conversion application.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of a user interface of theintegrated application.

FIG. 3A is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing a three dimensional representation for use with a searchengine.

FIG. 3B is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing a three dimensional representation for use with a searchengine using a conversion application.

FIG. 3C is a diagram of one embodiment of a tightly integrated systemfor capturing a three dimensional representation for use with a searchengine.

FIG. 3D is a diagram of one embodiment where the captured application isremote from the search engine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of one embodiment of a user interface of theintegrated search application.

FIG. 5A is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing and publishing a three dimensional representation of anobject.

FIG. 5B is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing and publishing a three dimensional representation of an objectthrough a transaction platform.

FIG. 5C is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing and publishing a three dimensional representation of an objectthrough a transaction platform.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of one embodiment of a user interface of theintegrated publishing application.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing and sharing a three dimensional representation of an object.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of one embodiment of a user interface of theintegrated collaboration application.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated system forcapturing and reproducing a three-dimensional object.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process for handling acapture request in an integrated application environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is one embodiment of an integrated computer aided design (CAD)module and capture module. In the embodiments discussed herein, the CADmodule and capture module are in the form of applications for purpose ofconvenience. One of ordinary skill would understand other module typeswould also be appropriate. In one embodiment, the integrated CAD systemmay be in communication with a capture device (e.g., ‘capture unit’) 101or similar device. Capture device 101 may be a handheld scanner, fixedscanner, digital camera, copy machine or similar device capable ofcapturing a two dimensional image or three dimensional representation ofan object or “model.” In one embodiment, the two dimensional image maybe an image of the surface of an object such as an image of an objectcaptured and modeled in three dimensions. Such a surface image issometimes referred to as a texture map.

In one embodiment, the capture device 101 may be in communication withcomputer system 121 and integrated capture application 103 through adistributed network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN),universal serial bus (USB) port, FireWire, Bluetooth, or similarconnection or wireless communication system. In one embodiment, capturedevice 101 may be controlled by capture application 103. Captureapplication 103 may be resident on a general purpose computer system 121or specialized system in communication with the capture device 101.

In another embodiment, the capture application 103 may be primarilyresident within capture device 101. The components of the integratedcapture system may be distributed over multiple components. The captureapplication 103 on the device may communicate with the integrated systemthrough a client, plug-in application or similar program to provide theneeded accessibility. In one embodiment, the capture application 103 maymanage the operation of the capture device 101 including the generationand storage of an image or three dimensional model captured by thecapture device.

In one embodiment, a CAD application 105 may be present on computersystem 121 or in communication with computer system 121. The CADapplication 105 may be used to design objects. Designs may take the formof a three dimensional visual representation of objects. CADapplications may include AutoCAD by Autodesk, Inc. or similar CADapplications that work with two dimensional images or three dimensionalobject models. The CAD may also be a multimedia application such as Maya3D by Alias Systems Corporation or similar multimedia tools that workwith two dimensional images or three dimensional models of objects.

In one embodiment, the CAD application 105 may include or may be updatedto include a capture application user interface 107. The interface 107component may allow the CAD application 105 to communicate with thecapture application 103 and offer its functionality to the user of theCAD 105. The capture interface 107 may allow a user of a CAD application105 to initiate a capture and to import the resulting captured data intothe CAD application 105 in a format utilized by the CAD application 105.This allows the user to manipulate and alter the data captured by usingthe standard tools of the CAD application 105 without needing to openseparate applications to capture and import the data. In one embodiment,the capture interface 107 may be provided by a plug-in component orsimilar modular component. The capture interface 107 may include a userinterface that is integrated into the CAD application user interface ora separate user interface such as a separate window interface.

FIG. 1B is another embodiment of the integrated CAD and captureapplication system. In this embodiment, the capture device 101 may be indirect communication with the CAD application 105. The captureapplication 109 may be wholly integrated into the CAD application 105.The capture application 109 may be an update to a basic CAD application105 or similar modification of a CAD application 105. CAD application105 may be designed to include the capture application 109 functionalityto manage the capture device 101. The capture application 109functionality may be accessible through the standard tools and userinterfaces of the CAD application 105.

In one embodiment, the CAD application 105 may be executed by a computersystem 121. The capture device 101 may be in communication with thecomputer system 121 and integrated capture application 109 through adistributed network, universal serial bus (USB) port, FireWire,Bluetooth or similar connection or wireless communication system.

FIG. 1C is a further embodiment of the integrated CAD and capturesoftware system. In this embodiment, a capture device 101 may becontrolled by an independent capture application 103 on computer system121 or similar system. A CAD application 105, conversion application 111and launcher application 113 may also be available on computer system121 or similar system.

In one embodiment, the CAD application 105 may not be capable ofutilizing the images and three dimensional models generated by thecapture application 103. A conversion application 111 may be present toallow the images and three dimensional models captured and stored by thecapture application 103 to be converted into images and threedimensional models accessible and modifiable by CAD application 105. Inone embodiment, the capture application 103 may receive image and modeldata from capture device 101 and store the data in the form of a pointcloud or polygonal mesh or similar data structure. The CAD application105 may operate on a parametric data type such as an Initial GraphicsExchange Specification (IGES) format, Non-Uniform Rational B Spline(NURBS) format or similar formats. Conversion application 111 mayconvert the data in the first data type into data of the second datatype. Conversion application 111 may be automatically invoked along withthe capture application 103 to automatically facilitate the retrieval ofthe captured data and return of this data to the CAD application 105 foruse by the user. This automated process of conversion and importationmay be initiated and managed by a user entirely through the userinterface of the CAD application 105, a separate user interface providedby a launcher application or similar application or through a similarinterface system. Further description of processing the integratedcapture is discussed in relation with FIG. 10 below.

In another embodiment, the integrated system may include a launcherapplication 113. Launcher application 113 may provide a wrapper programto allow a user to initiate each of the other programs such that each isready or assisted in facilitating the other applications in the processof importing captured data into the CAD application 105 at the requestof a user. The launcher application 113 may provide a user interface toallow the user to manage each of the other applications through onecentral interface for the user.

The preceding embodiments are illustrative examples of the integratedCAD application and capture system. Permutations of these exemplarysystems may also be used where each component or configuration in oneexample embodiment may be used with components and configurations ofother example embodiments. For example, a launcher application may beused in combination with the example embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B.Other combinations and variations may be utilized along a spectrum ofautonomous coordination between the components and complete integrationof the components.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example user interface for one embodiment ofthe integrated capture and CAD application system. In one embodiment,the integrated system may be used in the context of a standard operatingsystem environment 201. The operating system may be Microsoft Windows,OS X by Apple Computers or similar operating system environment. Theoperating system environment may be a windowing environment or similaruser interface. In another embodiment, the system may be initiated froma command line or similar environment and generate its own graphicaluser interface.

In one embodiment, the CAD application may function in a discrete window203 where each of its tools are available to a user and an interface 205to the capture application may be present. The CAD application may alsoinclude a display area 209 to display the current object or design beingworked on. In one embodiment, the capture interface 205 may be part of atoolbar, drop down menu or similar interface. The capture interface mayprovide a user options including initiating a capture, importing data,exporting data and similar options.

In one embodiment, if a capture function is initiated an indicator suchas a pop up window or a window of the capture application may bedisplayed to demonstrate to a user that the capture is in progress or tospecify settings for the capture process. The integrated system may alsoprovide an indicator 207 for a conversion process if necessary to allowa user to track the progress of the capture and conversion into a formatuseable by the CAD application. In one embodiment, the CAD applicationmay also display the progress of the capture through a display window209 or by a similar means. The display window may display the receivedimage or three dimensional model data as it is received or at the timeof completion.

In other embodiments, any type of user interface including any type ofgraphical user interface (GUI) may be used to allow a user to access thefunctionality of the capture software through a launcher program or CADapplication. In another embodiment, the capture application mayintegrate aspects of the CAD application to facilitate the export of thecaptured data to a CAD application. The integrated system may bedesigned to streamline the process of generating products, designs andmultimedia generally generated by use of a CAD application by automatingthe process of initiating and controlling a capture process andimporting the captured data into the CAD application such that thecaptured data may be manipulated using the tools of the CAD application.

FIG. 3A is a diagram of one embodiment of an integrated search moduleand capture system. In the embodiments discussed herein the searchmodule is a search engine for the sake of convenience. One of ordinaryskill would understand that other search modules may be used. In oneembodiment, the integrated system is in communication with a capturedevice 301. The capture device 301 may be a scanning device, digitalcamera or similar capture device. The integrated system may operate on ageneral computer system 321, specialized system or similar apparatus.The integrated system may include a capture application 303, searchengine 305, display interface 307, database 311 or similar components.The components of the integrated capture system may be distributed overmultiple computers. The capture device may be local or remote from thesystem and in communication with the system via a distributed networkconnection, USB connection, FireWire connection or similar connection.

In one embodiment, the capture application 303 may provide control overthe operation of the capture device 301 including the initiation of thecapture of an image or digital model of an object as well as the storageof the captured image or model. The capture application 303 may be incommunication with a search engine 305. The search engine 305 may beable to receive the input of the capture device in the form of an imageor three dimensional model. The input from the capture device may beautomatic or provided at the initiation of the user. In one embodiment,an automatic input of the captured data may include automatically savingthe captured data, converting the format of the captured data to aformat native to the search engine and passing control of the captureddata to the search engine. In another embodiment, a conversion may notbe necessary because the capture application stores the captured data ina format accessible to the search engine. Passing control to the searchengine may be accomplished through shared memory space, passing alocation of the stored data, use of a socket or similar communicationmechanism or similar method commonly used to share between applicationsor pass data from one application to another application.

The search engine may search a database 311 for items that match thecaptured data. A match may be sought for the image or the threedimensional model based on similarities in the dimensions, coloration,object type and similar characteristics or data derived from thecaptured image or three dimensional model. For example, derived data forthree dimensional models may include wavelet data, spectral data andsimilar data derived from captured data. In one embodiment, a model of acomplementary object may be derived from the model of the objectcaptured. For example, a model of a bolt may be derived from the modelof the corresponding nut. Additional models of a portion or asubcomponent of the object captured may be derived from the captureddata. In one embodiment, the search criteria are specified by thecaptured data or information derived from the captured data. In oneembodiment, the search may be performed on a database that refers todata stored at different sites accessible over a distributed network.For example, a local database may contain links to source data thatresides on other nodes or the Internet.

In one embodiment, the database 311 may be a local database to thecomputer system or a remote database. The database 311 may be a flatfile, object-oriented database, relational database or similar database.The database 311 may store data related to any type of image or threedimensional model, data related to the image or model or informationderived from the image or model. Images and models may be stored andmanipulated as data records in the database. In one embodiment, datastored in database 311 may be data ‘related’ to a two dimensional imageor three dimensional model. ‘Related’ data may be data related to thedepicted object in an image or model, such as a web page, files orsimilar resources. Related data may include text, documentation, e.g.,brochures or data sheets related to a depicted object, other images,keywords, maps, symbols and similar information related to the location,identity, content, operation or similar aspects of an image or model, orobject depicted on an image or model. Related data may also includemodels of subcomponent, e.g., a turbine has a blade, or complementaryparts, e.g., a bolt has a related (complementary) nut. In oneembodiment, links to the locations on a distributed network of the twodimensional images and three dimensional models are stored in thedatabase.

In one embodiment, a user may interact with the search engine andreceive results from the search engine through a display interface 307.The display interface 307 may be a dedicated display application for usewith the integrated search engine. In another embodiment, the displayinterface 307 may be a general display interface such as a browserapplication. In one embodiment, the display interface may also provideaccess to capture application functionality and related services.

FIGS. 3B, 3C and 3D are diagrams of example variant embodiments of theintegrated search engine and capture system. FIG. 3B is a diagram of anembodiment of the integrated capture and search engine system where aconversion application is present. In this embodiment, the captureapplication 303 may not generate an image, three dimensional model ordata derived from the capture in a format that the search engine 305 iscapable of utilizing. The conversion application 309 may convert thedata from the capture application 303 into data in a format accessibleto the search engine 305. This process may also be initiated by a userthrough the display interface and search engine 305 or may be automatedwith the initiation of the capture process.

FIG. 3C is a diagram of one embodiment where the capture application maybe tightly integrated into the search engine. In this embodiment, thecapture application 303 may be a component of the search engineapplication 305. The capture application 303 may generate images andthree dimensional models from data received from the capture device in aformat native to the search engine. In one embodiment, the search enginemay provide access to the functionality of the capture application 303and the input of the capture device through an integrated displayinterface 307.

FIG. 3D is a diagram of one embodiment where the capture application isremote from the search engine. In one embodiment, the captureapplication may be located on a client machine 351. The capture device301 may be local to the client machine 351 and in communication with thecapture application 303. In one embodiment, the display interface 307may be present on client machine 351. In another embodiment, the displayinterface 307 may be present on the server machine 371 or may haveseparate instances on both machines. The capture application 303 maycommunicate with search engine 305 via hypertext transport protocol(http) or similar communication system. The search engine 305 mayreceive input from the capture application 303 and search database 311.Search results may be returned to the client 351 to be displayed via thedisplay interface 307.

The preceding embodiments are illustrative examples of the integratedcapture and search system. Permutations of these exemplary systems mayalso be used where each component or configuration in one exampleembodiment may be used with components and configurations of otherexample embodiments. For example, a launcher application may be used incombination with the example embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3C. Othercombinations and variations may be utilized along a spectrum ofautonomous coordination between the components and complete integrationof the components.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of one embodiment of a user interface for theintegrated search and capture system. In one embodiment, the integratedsystem may be used in the context of a standard operating systemenvironment 401. The operating system may be Microsoft Windows, OS X byApple Computers or similar operating system environment. The operatingsystem environment may be a windowing environment or similar userinterface. In another embodiment, the system may be initiated from acommand line interface or similar environment and generate its owngraphical use interface.

In one embodiment, the integrated application may function in a discretewindow 403 where each of its options, input interface and resultsdisplay are available to a user and an interface 405 to the captureapplication may be present. In one embodiment, the user interface may bea browser application providing access to the search engine. In oneembodiment, the capture interface 405 may be part of a toolbar, dropdown menu or similar interface. The capture interface may provide a useroptions including initiating a capture, importing data, exporting dataand similar options.

In one embodiment, the user interface may provide an input field 413where a user may specify the search terms including the use of captureddata. The input field may be a text field, menu or similar interfacemechanism. The capture interface 405 may be used to input or initiatethe input of the captured data. The user interface may include a window407 or similar display to show the captured data. The user interface mayalso display other current settings and parameters for the search suchas the current database to be searched or similar data. Captured datamay be displayed as a thumbnail in a two dimensional form or a rotatingthree dimensional form or similar display format.

In one embodiment, if a capture function is initiated an indicator suchas a pop up window or a window of the capture software may be displayedto demonstrate to a user that the capture is in progress or to specifysettings for the capture process. The integrated system may also providean indicator for a conversion process if necessary to allow a user totrack the progress of the capture and conversion into a format useableby the search application. In one embodiment, the progress of thecapture may be displayed through a window 407 or by a similar mechanism.The display window may display the received image or three dimensionalmodel as it is received or at the time of completion.

In one embodiment, after the captured input has been received and thesearch based on the selected search parameters begins, search resultsmay be displayed in a results window 409 or similar display mechanism.The displayed results may be a set of data 411 related to an object orimage found in the database or may be data derived from the captured orreturned image or model. An image or three dimensional model may bedisplayed, characteristics of the object or derived model data may bedisplayed or similar related data may be displayed. Further, details ofthe integrated capture process are discussed below in relation to FIG.10.

In other embodiments, any type of user interface including any type ofgraphical user interface (GUI) may be used to allow a user to access thefunctionality of the capture software through a browser, dedicatedsearch engine interface, launcher application or similar program. Inanother embodiment, the capture application may integrate aspects of thesearch engine to facilitate the export of the captured data to thesearch engine. The search engine interface may be integrated with thecapture application and search results may be displayed through thecapture application. The integrated system may be designed to streamlinethe process of searching through stored objects, products and multimediaby automating the process of initiating and controlling a captureprocess and importing the captured data into the search engine such thatthe captured data or data derived from the captured data may be used bythe search engine to search a database.

FIGS. 5A-5C are diagrams of example embodiments of an integrated captureand publishing system. FIG. 5A is a diagram of one embodiment of theintegrated capture and publishing system. The capture and publishingsystem may be designed to facilitate the capture of an image or threedimensional model and to publish this captured data. Publishing the datamay involve making the data accessible over a network or similarcommunications system to users of the communication system. Thepublishing system may make the data available through a range ofprotocols and systems. For example, the publishing system may make thedata available through file transfer protocol (FTP), a web server,advanced program interface (API), or similar protocols and applications.

In one embodiment, a capture device 501 is in communication with a localcomputer system 513 or similar apparatus that is part of the integratedcapture and publishing system. The capture device 501 may be operated bycapture application 503. Capture application 503 may be accessiblethrough local user interface 551. The local user interface 551 may be abrowser application accessing a published website, a dedicated interfaceapplication or similar application. The local user interface 551 mayallow a user to control the initiation of a capture to be published anddetermine the manner and location of the publishing of the data. Captureapplication 503 may be in communication with publishing module orapplication 505 via network 511 to provide access to capturefunctionality including the initiation of a capture and the return ofthe captured data to a local user and automated exportation of thecaptured data to the publishing application 505 to be made available asa resource over a communication network.

In one embodiment, captured data, related data and derived data may beembedded in a web page generated by the publishing system and placed onthe network to be accessed by users. This web page may be generated fromdata stored in data records in the database. In one embodiment, thetransfer and coordination of data between components of the publishingsystem may be affected by a transfer module or application 561. Thetransfer module 561 may be utilized to facilitate automated upload ofcaptured data and other data to the publishing system. Transfer module561 may facilitate the transfer of data between components such asproviding captured data to email application 507. In one embodiment,transfer of data may be session based. In one embodiment, captured datareceived by the publishing application 505 may be stored in a database531 in communication with server 521. Data received by the publishingapplications may be formatted, parsed, mapped or similarly processed tobe prepared for storage in a database. The data may be stored accordingto an established schema or similar format. Received data may be used tocreate a database record. The transfer module 561 may be utilized toimport the data to the database 531. Data may be received from multipleclients over time to populate the database. Database 531 may be a flatfile, relational database, object oriented database or similar database.

In one embodiment, the publishing software may include a serverapplication 509. The server application 509 may make captured dataavailable, i.e. publishes the data over a communication network. Inanother embodiment, the publishing application 505 and serverapplication 509 may be separate applications. The server application mayallow a remote client machine 537 or application to access the captureddata which may be resident on the local machine or server 521. Theclient 537 may communicate with the server application over network 511.The client 537 may be able to access the captured data or the serverapplication 509 and publishing application 505 may allow a client accessto the functionality of the capture application 503 to initiate acapture and publish from a location remote from the server.

In one embodiment, email application 507 may be in communication withthe publishing application 505 or server application 509. Emailapplication 507 may be utilized by the publishing application 505 orserver application 509 to notify a user of the successful receipt ofcaptured data or publishing of captured data. Email application 507 mayautomatically email uniform resource locator (URL) links or similarlinks to users of a system or network to indicate the location ofpublished data.

FIG. 5B is a diagram of another embodiment of the integrated capture andpublishing system. In this embodiment, the publishing software may be atransaction platform 535. For example, the transaction platform may bean auction website or similar merchant website for facilitating theexchange of goods between buyers and sellers. The transaction platformmay include a set of components including a server application 509,auction or transaction module 533, capture application 503, emailapplication 507 and similar software and components. In one embodiment,capture device 501 may be in communication with the transaction platform535 and controllable by a user of the transaction platform through thecapture software 503. Captured data may be stored in a database 531 incommunication with the transaction platform. Captured data may be imagesand models of goods to be sold. Captured data and derived data may bestored as a set of data records. Database 531 may store data utilized bythe transaction platform, including data related to products and itemsoffered for sale through the auction module 533. Database 531 may be aflat file, relational database, object oriented database or similardatabase.

In one embodiment, data generated or stored by the auction module 533and database may be accessed by remote clients 537, 539, 541 through theserver application 509. Server application 509 may be a web serverapplication or similar application. The remote clients may access thedata provided by the server application 509 over a distributed network511 such as a LAN, WAN, e.g., the Internet, or similar communicationsnetwork.

FIG. 5C is a diagram of a further embodiment of the integrated captureand publishing a system. In the further embodiment, the publishingapplication may be transaction platform 535. The publishing applicationmay be accessible over a distributed network 511 by a set of remoteclients 537, 539. The capture device 501 may be local or incommunication with a remote client 539. Capture application 503 may beexecuted local to the remote machine 539 or local to the capture device501. In this embodiment, the user of the remote client may access thedata provided by the transaction platform 535 through a browserapplication 551 or similar application.

In one embodiment, a user of the remote client may initiate a capture ofan image or representation of an object through a browser or similardisplay interface. The browser or display interface may utilize acapture application 503 to initiate a capture and return captured data.During or after capture, the captured image or model may be displayedvia the browser or interface.

In one embodiment, this data may then be automatically forwarded to theserver application on the transaction platform 535. The captured datamay be stored at the transaction platform 535 in a database or similarstorage structure. The captured data may be associated with transactiondata such as information about an item or product to be sold through anauction or sales system. For example, a user of the remote client may bepreparing an advertisement for an auction through the auction websiteprovided by the transaction platform. A user may initiate a capture ofan image or three dimensional model of an object to be sold and thecaptured data may be sent automatically to the transaction server to bepublished. In one embodiment, a reference to the location of an image ormodel may be passed to the transaction platform 535, e.g., a link to thelocation. In another embodiment, a transfer module may facilitate thetransfer of an image or model to the transaction platform. The publishedimage or three dimensional model may be viewed in connection with otherinformation about the product or item to be sold. The image or model maybe viewed via a browser or similar interface to the transaction platformsystem.

In one embodiment, an email program may be utilized to automaticallysend captured data to the transaction platform or other destination. Theintegrated system may automatically generate an email message to thetransaction platform and attach captured data. The user may interactwith the process to add additional information, approve the sending ofthe message or similarly guide the process. In one embodiment, theautomatically generated email may be a form for selling a productthrough the transaction platform. The user may fill out the form beforesending the email. An email received by the transaction platform may beautomatically parsed to identify the captured data to be published andassociated data in the electronic mail message.

In another embodiment, an email program, for example Microsoft Outlookmay be integrated with the capture application. A user may initiate thecapture of an image or model and store the captured data through theemail application. The integrated email and capture system mayautomatically attach captured data to an email message. This message maybe sent to any location including to a transaction platform or similarpublishing application.

In additional embodiments, launcher applications and conversionapplications may be used in conjunction with the integrated capture andpublishing system. A launcher application may be present on a server orclient to facilitate the launch of individual components of the systemor provide a standardized interface for accessing multiple components. Aconversion application may be present to convert the captured data froma capture format to a data format native to the other components of thepublishing system including the browser application, server application,email system and similar components. Further, details of the integratedcapture process are discussed below in relation to FIG. 10.

The preceding embodiments are illustrative examples of the integratedcapture and publishing system. Permutations of these exemplary systemsmay also be used where each component or configuration in one exampleembodiment may be used with components and configurations of otherexample embodiments. For example, a launcher program may be used incombination with the example embodiments of FIGS. 5A-5C. Othercombinations and variations may be utilized along a spectrum ofautonomous coordination between the components and complete integrationof the components.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of one embodiment of a user interface for theintegrated publishing and capture system. In one embodiment, theintegrated system may be used in the context of a standard operatingsystem environment 601. The operating system may be Microsoft Windows,OS X by Apple Computers or similar operating system environment. Theoperating system environment may be a windowing environment or similaruser interface. In another embodiment, the system may be initiated froma command line interface or similar environment and generate its owngraphical user interface.

In one embodiment, the integrated application may function in a discretewindow 603 where each of its options, input interface and listingdisplay are available to a user and an interface 605 to the captureapplication may be present. In one embodiment, the user interface may bea browser application providing access to the published data. Forexample, the browser may provide access to a website supported by thetransaction platform, such as an auction website. In one embodiment, thecapture interface 605 may be part of a toolbar, drop down menu orsimilar interface. The capture interface may provide a user optionsincluding initiating a capture, importing data, exporting data andsimilar options.

In one embodiment, the user interface may provide an input field 613where a user may input data to be associated with captured dataincluding pricing data, description, purchase options and similar data.The capture interface 605 may be used to input or initiate the input ofthe captured data. The user interface may include a window 607 orsimilar display to show the captured data. The user interface may alsodisplay other current settings and information related to the captureddata such as an example form for an advertisement or auctionincorporating the captured data. In another embodiment, a user may viewthe actual published data through a browsing window 609. The browsingwindow 609 may be used to display the captured data in the form of anauction listing 611, sale listing or similar published data form. Theview of the published data may allow for interaction by providing toolsto manipulate the perspective or size of an image or model. The viewermay also provide a space to input a bid and to track the current statusof an auction.

In one embodiment, if a capture function is initiated an indicator suchas a pop up window or a window of the capture software may be displayedto demonstrate to a user that the capture is in progress or to specifysettings for the capture process. The integrated system may also providean indicator for a conversion process if necessary to allow a user totrack the progress of the capture and conversion into a format useableby the search application. In one embodiment, the progress of thecapture may be displayed through a window or by a similar mechanism. Thedisplay window may display the received image or three dimensional modelas it is received or at the time of completion. Further discussion ofthe integrated capture process are discussed below in relation to FIG.10.

In other embodiments, any type of user interface including any type ofgraphical user interface (GUI) may be used to allow a user to access thefunctionality of the capture application through a browser, publishingapplication, email application, launcher application or similar program.In another embodiment, the capture application may integrate aspects ofthe browser, publishing application or email application to facilitatethe export of the captured data to the publishing application. Theintegrated system may be designed to streamline the process of preparingcaptured data for publishing by automating the process of initiating andcontrolling a capture process and importing the captured data into thepublishing application such that the captured data or data derived fromthe captured data may be used or be made available over a network orsimilar communication system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of one embodiment of a collaboration application. Acollaboration application 705 may be an application that facilitatescommunication between users. The users may be at locations mutuallyremote from one another. The collaboration application 705 may allowusers to speak or similarly communicate to one another over adistributed network such as a LAN, WAN, e.g., the Internet, or similarcommunications network. The collaboration application 705 may supportvoice communication. The application may also support typed or graphicalcommunication. Users may type messages, draw images or generate threedimensional models of objects. The collaboration program may allow themanipulation of these images and models such that each user may viewchanges at approximately the same time.

In one embodiment, a capture device 701 may be in communication withcapture application 703 on a local machine 721. The capture device 701may be in communication with capture application 703 through adistributed network connection, USB, FireWire, Bluetooth, or similarcommunication medium or wireless communication system. Captureapplication 703 may provide access to capture functionality to acollaboration application 705. The collaboration application 705 may becapable of initiating a capture and receiving the captured data throughcapture application 703. The collaboration application 705 may beaccessed by a local user through a local client 707 or through a directinterface with the collaboration application. The same functionality maybe accessed remotely over a network 711 by a user at a remote client713. In one embodiment, the collaboration application may include atransfer module 731 to manage the movement of the captured data betweencomponents. Therefore, transfer module 731 may manage the initializationof other components that are needed for the automated process. Inanother embodiment, the transfer module 731 may be a separate transferapplication. Further, discussions of the integrated capture process arepresented below in relation to FIG. 10.

The preceding embodiment is an illustrative example of the integratedcapture and collaboration system. Variations of this exemplaryembodiment may also be used where each component or configuration in oneexample may be used with other components and configurations of such asthose discussed in relation to other integrated systems. For example, alauncher application may be used in combination with the exampleembodiment of FIG. 7. In another example, the capture applicationcontains an integrated user interface and functionality necessary forcollaboration. Other combinations and variations may be utilized along aspectrum of autonomous coordination between the components and completeintegration of the components.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of one embodiment user interface for the integratedcollaboration and capture system. In one embodiment, the integratedsystem may be used in the context of a standard operating systemenvironment 801. The operating system may be Microsoft Windows, OS X byApple Computers or similar operating system environment. The operatingsystem environment may be a windowing environment or similar userinterface. In another embodiment, the system may be initiated from acommand line interface or similar environment and generate its owngraphical user interface.

In one embodiment, the integrated application may function in a discretewindow 803 where each of its options, input interfaces and shareddisplays are available to a user and an interface 805 to the captureapplication may be present. In one embodiment, the user interface may bea browser application providing access to the shared data. In anotherembodiment, the user interface may be a dedicated client application ordirect interface to the collaboration application.

In one embodiment, the capture interface 805 may be used to input orinitiate the input of the captured data. The user interface may includea window 807 or similar display to show the captured data and othershared data. The user may input data to directly mark up information inthe shared window 807. The user may use any type of input device togenerate this input. In one embodiment, an image or three dimensionalmodel of an object may be displayed and shared. A set of tools 815 maybe present to manipulate the image or three dimensional representationof an object. These tools may facilitate the viewing of the image orrepresentation by allowing rotation, zooming and similar functions.

In one embodiment, a list of users 809 who are currently sharing data inthe window or accessing the collaboration program may be provided. Inone embodiment a window 811 may be present to show captured data. Thecaptured data may be selected by a user to share with other users of thecollaboration application. In one embodiment, if a capture function isinitiated, an indicator such as a pop up window or a window of thecapture application may be displayed to demonstrate to a user that thecapture is in progress or to specify settings for the capture process.The integrated system may also provide an indicator for a conversionprocess if necessary to allow a user to track the progress of thecapture and conversion into a format useable by the collaborationapplication. In one embodiment, the progress of the capture may bedisplayed through a window or by a similar mechanism. The display windowmay display the received image or three dimensional model as it isreceived or at the time of completion.

In other embodiments, any type of user interface including any type ofgraphical user interface (GUI) may be used to allow a user to access thefunctionality of the capture application through the collaborationapplication or similar program. In another embodiment, the captureapplication may integrate aspects of the collaboration application tofacilitate the export of the captured data to the collaborationapplication. The integrated system may be designed to streamline theprocess of preparing captured data for sharing through the collaborationapplication by automating the process of initiating and controlling acapture process and importing the captured data into the collaborationapplication such that the captured data or data derived from thecaptured data may be used or be made available to share over a networkor similar communication system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of one embodiment of a reproduction application. Areproduction application may be an application that facilitates thereproduction of an object by copying or faxing the captured object datato a reproduction apparatus. In one embodiment, the captured object datamay be sent to a manufacturing device. The manufacturing device may be apolymer, plastic, resin or similar material, molding, layering orsimilar automated manufacturing device. The user may be at a locationremote from the manufacturing device.

In one embodiment, a capture device 901 may be in communication withcapture application 903 on a system 921. The capture device may be incommunication with capture application 903 through a distributed networkconnection, USB, FireWire, Bluetooth, or similar communication medium orwireless communication system. Capture application 903 may provideaccess to capture functionality to a fabrication or reproduction module905. The reproduction module 905 may be capable of initiating a captureand receiving the captured data through capture application 903. Thereproduction module 905 may manage input captured data and prepare thecaptured data for output according to the type of device thereproduction module 905 manages. The reproduction unit may analyze thedata to determine the constituent materials and dimensions of theobject. The reproduction module 905 may then generate a schematic or setof instructions for reproducing the object according to the capabilitiesof the reproduction apparatus 907 that the reproduction module governs.In one embodiment, the reproduction module 905 may include a transfermodule 931 to manage the movement of the captured data betweencomponents. Transfer module 931 may be capable of communicating withother components via a distributed network or similar communicationssystem. Transfer module 931 may manage the initialization of othercomponents that are needed for the automated process. In anotherembodiment, the transfer module 931 may be a separate transferapplication.

In one embodiment, the reproduction apparatus may be a plastic orsimilar material ‘printer’ capable of laying out successive layers orsimilarly assembling materials that bond to one another in successivepatterns to generate a three dimensional reproduction of the capturedobject.

The preceding embodiment is an illustrative example of the integratedcapture and reproduction system. Variations of this exemplary system mayalso be used where each component or configuration in one embodiment maybe used with other components and configurations of other systems suchas those discussed in relation to other integrated systems. For example,a launcher program may be used in combination with the exampleembodiment of FIG. 9. Components may also be present on separatecomputer systems in a distributed implementation or combined on the samesystem. Other combinations and variations may be utilized along aspectrum of autonomous coordination between the components and completeintegration of the components.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of one embodiment of an automated capture anddata import process application to each of the embodiments describedabove. This process may be applicable to any embodiment or integratedapplication (“target applications”). In one embodiment, a systeminitialization input may be received from a user (block 1001). Forexample, a user may execute a launcher program that initiates each ofthe components of the integrated capture system including the captureapplication, conversion application, target application and similarcomponents. In another embodiment, each component may be initialized orexecuted separately by a user or the initialization or usage of oneapplication may automatically initialize the other needed applications.

In one embodiment, a user of the target applications may input a capturecommand (block 1003). The capture command may be supported by integratedfunctionality that communicates directly with a capture device or thatcommunicates with an independent capture application that initiates acapture (block 1007). In one embodiment, the capture device returns datato the process that initiated it, either a capture application or targetapplication (block 1009). The data may then be stored in a format nativeto the capture application or receiving application (block 1011). In oneembodiment, the captured data may be transferred from the captureapplication to a conversion application or the target application. Thetransfer of the captured data may be affected by designation, thecaptured data as a shared file, placing the data in a stored memoryspace, transferring through network protocols or OS based protocols,e.g., a socket and similar transfer methods. In one embodiment, the datamay be stored in multiple locations in multiple formats, and may besynchronized between accessing applications. In one embodiment, captureddata may be stored in a database. A transfer module, captureapplication, target application or similar component may map thecaptured data, related data and received data into the database based ondesignated relationships between the captured data and database schemas.The user may select a mapping, schema or similar settings. A conversionapplication may be initiated by the target application, captureapplication or similar application to convert the captured data into aformat native to the target application (block 1013). In anotherembodiment, the data may be initially stored in a format native to thetarget application and the conversion application may not be utilized.

In one embodiment, after the captured data has been stored in a formatnative to the target application, it may be imported into theapplication by an open file command, import command or similar command(block 1015). The imported data may be viewed, altered, and stored asdata generated by the target application after importation.

In one embodiment, the integrated capture systems may be implemented insoftware and stored or transmitted in a machine-readable medium. As usedherein, a machine-readable medium is a medium that can store or transmitdata such as a fixed disk, physical disk, optical disk, CDROM, DVD,floppy disk, magnetic disk, wireless device, infrared device, andsimilar storage and transmission technologies.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evidentthat various modifications and changes can be made thereto withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are,accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictivesense.

1. A system comprising: a capture module to drive a capture unit tocapture three- dimensional data about a physical object; aComputer-Aided-Design (CAD) module to enable display and editing of thecaptured 3D data; and wherein the capture module and CAD module areintegrated to allow substantially automated transfer of 3D data from thecapture module to the CAD module.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein thecapture module and CAD module are integrated to allow a user to initiatethe capture from within the CAD module.
 3. The system of claim 1 whereinthe capture module and CAD module are integrated to allow a user tolaunch the CAD module from within the capture module.
 4. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the capture module and CAD module are integrated toallow a user to launch the capture module from within the CAD module. 5.A system comprising: a capture module to drive a capture unit to capturethree-dimensional (3D) data about a physical object; a search module tofind data relating to the captured 3D data; wherein the capture moduleand search module are integrated to allow substantially automatedtransfer of information derived from the 3D data to the search module.6. The system of claim 5 wherein the subject of a search issubstantially specified by the transferred information.
 7. The system ofclaim 5 coupled to a distributed network wherein at least one referencedata for the search module is accessible over the distributed network.8. A system comprising: a capture module to drive a capture unit tocapture three-dimensional (3D) data about a physical object; a databaseto contain information derived from the 3D data; and wherein the capturemodule and database are integrated to allow substantially automatedpopulation of the database with the information.
 9. The system of claim8 coupled to a distributed network wherein at least one data record inthe database is accessible via the distributed network.
 10. The systemof claim 8 further comprising a module that substantially automaticallygenerates a web page incorporating data from at least one data record inthe database.
 11. A system comprising: a capture module to drive acapture unit to capture three-dimensional (3D) data about a physicalobject; a publishing module to enable access over a distributed networkto information derived from the 3D data; and wherein the capture moduleand publishing module are integrated to allow substantially automatedpublishing of information derived from the 3D data from the capturemodule.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the capture unit furthercaptures an image of a surface of the physical object.
 13. The system ofclaim 11 wherein information derived from the 3D data is published to aweb page.
 14. The system of claim 11 wherein information derived fromthe 3D data is published to a database.
 15. The system of claim 14wherein the database is coupled to a process capable of creating a webpage containing the derived information.
 16. The system of claim 11wherein the publishing module transfers to an email module a referenceto a resource on a distributed network, which location containsinformation derived from the 3D data.
 17. A system comprising: a capturemodule to drive a capture unit to capture three-dimensional (3D) dataabout a physical object; and a transfer module integrated with thecapture module to allow substantially automated transfer of informationderived from the 3D data to an email module.
 18. A system comprising: atransaction platform coupled to a distributed network, the transactionplatform to facilitate the exchange of goods between buyers and sellers;a first interface associated with the transaction platform to allowviewing of a three dimensional (3D) digital representation relating toat least one of the goods for exchange; and a second interfaceassociated with the transaction platform to allow substantiallyautomated posting of a 3D representation to the transaction platformfrom an external source on the distributed network.
 19. The system ofclaim 18 wherein the 3D representation includes an image of anassociated surface.
 20. A system comprising: a capture module to drive acapture unit to capture three-dimensional (3D) data about a physicalobject; and a transfer module, coupled to a distributed network andintegrated with the capture module, to allow substantially automatedtransfer of information derived from the 3D data from the capture moduleto a transaction platform coupled to a distributed network.
 21. Thesystem of claim 20 wherein the capture unit further captures an image ofa surface of the physical object.
 22. The system of claim 20 wherein thecapture module and transfer module are integrated to allow a user toinitiate the capture from within the transfer module.
 23. The system ofclaim 20 wherein the capture module and transfer module are integratedto allow a user to launch the transfer module from within the capturemodule.
 24. The system of claim 20 wherein the capture module andtransfer module are integrated to allow a user to launch the capturemodule from within the transfer module.
 25. A system comprising: anauction platform coupled to a distributed network, the auction platformto facilitate the exchange of goods between buyers and sellers; and aninterface associated with the auction platform to allow viewing of athree dimensional (3D) digital representation relating to the goods forexchange.
 26. The system of claim 25 wherein the 3D representationincludes an image of an associated surface.
 27. The system of claim 25wherein the 3D representation is provided by the auction platform. 28.The system of claim 25 further comprising a second interface to allowsubstantially automated posting of a 3D representation to the auctionplatform from an external source coupled to the distributed network. 29.The system of claim 25 wherein the 3D representation results from acapture of actual goods for exchange on the auction platform.
 30. Asystem comprising: a capture module to drive a capture unit to capturethree-dimensional (3D) data about a physical object; a transfer module,coupled to a distributed network and integrated with the capture module,to allow substantially automated transfer of information derived fromthe 3D data from the capture module from a first location to a secondlocation, both coupled to the distributed network; and a collaborationmodule to monitor actions relating to the information at one of thefirst and second locations, and to reflect the actions to the otherlocation.
 31. The system of claim 30 wherein the capture unit furthercaptures an image of a surface of the physical object.
 32. The system ofclaim 30 wherein the capture module and collaboration module areintegrated to allow a user to initiate the capture from within thecollaboration module.
 33. The system of claim 30 wherein the capturemodule and collaboration module are integrated to allow a user to launchthe collaboration module from within the capture module.
 34. The systemof claim 30 wherein the capture module and collaboration module areintegrated to allow a user to launch the capture module from within thecollaboration module.
 35. The system of claim 30 wherein the actionsrelating to the information comprise at least one of the altering itspresentation, altering its content, marking it up, and adding comments.36. A system comprising: a capture module to drive a capture unit tocapture three-dimensional (3D) data about a physical object; afabrication module capable of a producing a physical solid model; and atransfer module integrated with the capture module to allowsubstantially automated transfer of information derived from the 3D datafrom the capture module to the fabrication module to produce the model.37. The system of claim 36 wherein the capture unit further captures animage of a surface of the physical object.
 38. The system of claim 36wherein the transfer module comprises a distributed network interface toconnect a first location to a second location to enable the capture inthe first location and the production of the model in the secondlocation.
 39. The system of claim 36 wherein the capture module andfabrication module are integrated to allow a user to initiate thecapture from within the fabrication module.
 40. The system of claim 36wherein the capture module and fabrication module are integrated toallow a user to launch the fabrication module from within the capturemodule.
 41. The system of claim 36 wherein the capture module andfabrication module are integrated to allow a user to launch the capturemodule from within the fabrication module.